What restaurants would you recommend?

[disneymom0104]

We are going to use our free dining pin so we will have 5 sit down restaurants and 5 counter service. I have young children and they LOVE character dining. This trip is for them, so that will likely be our focus.

We will for sure do Ariel's Grotto as our Premium character meal for lunch. Then we will do the breakfast at PCH Grill, Storytellers and Plaza Inn. We would need one more table restaurant- what would you recommend? I eat very little meat so some place with vegetarian options would be best! I would also prefer it be dinner.

What are the best counter service places? I have poked around on all the dining threads here but am still having trouble figuring out what is best

Any special snacks that can't be missed?

Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

Blue Bayou, though it will be closed most of the fall.


However look at you pin really close.

There is no dining plan in DLR that resembles the one in WDW. I suspect your pin is for WDW.

 

[disneymom0104]

Nope- it is definitely for Disneyland The CM told us this is the first time they have offered a pin for free dining at DL. It will be using vouchers. We will get one character meal (or other table service), one counter service (up to $15) and one snack (up to $5) per person per night we stay

Blue Bayou would be at the top of my list, but it will be closed in Oct. I remember that one from when I was a child and am really sad we won't be able to do it. Any others?

 

[skiingfast]

I would try the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. It's family style and you will need to request the vegatarian option for yourself, it's veggie kabobs.

For snacks you will want a tigger tail.

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

Storytellers is a must for us as a dinner. As far as counter service goes our family enjoys Hungry Bear, Little Red Wagon for the corn dogs & Rancho del Zocalo. In DCA we have only really liked Taste Pilots' Grill but I know with the new choices over there we might try those our next trip. This site is a go to for us as a family since we can see the menus and prices so I thought maybe you might like to take a look
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm
As far a snacks go we love the mickey pretzels at Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner, Churro at the vending carts, and during halloween time we love the caramel and candy apples. You might enjoy the Pumpkin Mickey Demitasse that they had last year they are very yummy and we enjoyed them my brother didn't care for it though.

 

[ScooterL]

Most of the counter service places have a decent vegetarian option now. My favorites are the fried green tomato sandwich at Hungry Bear, the tofu and veggie skewer at Paradise Garden Grill, or one of the salads in a bread bowl at Pacific Wharf Cafe (they can leave off the meat). I haven't tried the four-cheese ravioli at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta yet, but it looks good. Also, Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland hotel has some vegetarian dishes - I've been told the Tofu Salad is excellent. Troubadour Tavern has really good baked potatoes.

 

[momjkm]

We recently went to DL for the 1st time... we really liked Cafe Orleans, Hungry Bear Cafe and the BBQ (near thunder mountain).

The following resturants we didn't like. We did not like the food at the Plaza character breakfast though the character interaction was good. Also, we had the WOC dinner at Ariel's. It was just ok. Wouldn't do it again. Would try the other resturant that does the WOC package.

Jill

 

[TeddiBarra]

UGH. They finally get around to a free dining version of an offer and they are STILL USING THE VOUCHERS? Geez! What a pain.

It was like at least a year and a half ago they trialed a room key based system and I keep hoping they will continue movement in that direction. (can you tell i disliked using paper vouchers).

Anyway, it is cool to see this offer.
-Pizza Port has some great meatless pasta dishes and some nice salads.
- The Plaza Inn is also one of my favorites, but it is most or all meat.
- Haven't tried the Hungry bear YET but really want to try their fried green tomatoe sandwhich.
- Both new places in DCA have recieved very solidly good reviews. P&P in particular has the pasta dishes and veggie flatbread pizza.
- Always have a good meal (bfast lunch or dinner) at Carnation Cafe.

I'm wondering if you are wiling to share the basics of the Pin offer? Min # of days? Or staying onsite only? Etc? Dates?
I like to see DLR offering this!

 

[TeddiBarra]

How did I forget Cafe Orleans? Do you like seafood? They have some lovely seafood crepes. Yummy!

 

[disneymom0104]

UGH. They finally get around to a free dining version of an offer and they are STILL USING THE VOUCHERS? Geez! What a pain.

It was like at least a year and a half ago they trialed a room key based system and I keep hoping they will continue movement in that direction. (can you tell i disliked using paper vouchers).

Anyway, it is cool to see this offer.
-Pizza Port has some great meatless pasta dishes and some nice salads.
- The Plaza Inn is also one of my favorites, but it is most or all meat.
- Haven't tried the Hungry bear YET but really want to try their fried green tomatoe sandwhich.
- Both new places in DCA have recieved very solidly good reviews. P&P in particular has the pasta dishes and veggie flatbread pizza.
- Always have a good meal (bfast lunch or dinner) at Carnation Cafe.

I'm wondering if you are wiling to share the basics of the Pin offer? Min # of days? Or staying onsite only? Etc? Dates?
I like to see DLR offering this!

You know, they told my DH it wouldn't actually be paper vouchers- it would all be on a card but it sounded like it was a separate card than the room key. She also told my DH they are trying to get DL dining more like WDW but I have no idea what that means, she knew we had been to WDW a few times.
I am unsure of the minimum number of days- but the maximum is 5 nights. The e-mail offered it as a "4 night/2 day" package but they will let you do any combo up to 5 nights (we are doing 6 days/5 nights) It had to be booked at one of the 3 DL hotels- for arrivals 8/22/11-10/8/11- had to be booked by 9/12/11 with travel completed by 10/12/11.

Anyway- thank you all for the info! I think we are going to call for our reservations tomorrow. I will go over this list with my DH tonight!

 

[TeddiBarra]

You know, they told my DH it wouldn't actually be paper vouchers- it would all be on a card but it sounded like it was a separate card than the room key. She also told my DH they are trying to get DL more like WDW but I have no idea what that means, she knew we had been to WDW a few times.
I am unsure of the minimum number of days- but the maximum is 5 nights. The e-mail offered it as a "4 night/2 day" package but they will let you do any combo up to 5 nights (we are doing 6 days/5 nights) It had to be booked at one of the 3 DL hotels- for arrivals 8/22/11-10/8/11- had to be booked by 9/12/11 with travel completed by 10/12/11.

Very interesting! I hope this new dining card system works well. If you don't mind coming back and giving us your reivew? Thank you for sharing the details. I always like to see what new promos they have.

 

[dizneekrazee]

So I am curious about this as well. I understand the dates and time of travel, but 1) how did you get the pin? 2)how much was it?

I rec. a pin in the mail for the same exact dates, but for discounted room rates. It doesn't list anything about meals.
(Although, I am sure not of it would even apply to me being a CM).

 

[disneymom0104]

So I am curious about this as well. I understand the dates and time of travel, but 1) how did you get the pin? 2)how much was it?

I rec. a pin in the mail for the same exact dates, but for discounted room rates. It doesn't list anything about meals.
(Although, I am sure not of it would even apply to me being a CM).

Not sure how we got it. It came in an e-mail from Disney Destinations to my husband's e-mail address. All of our WDW reservations have been under my e-mail address. We were planning a trip for the spring, I did request a travel DVD and I saved an offer on the DL site. I have not received any pins to my e-mail address. We did do a DVC tour at WDW last Sept. and my husband used his e-mail address for that, but I have no idea how or why his e-mail was chosen.

We have called DL a few times to ask some questions and even some of them are surprised by the pin code. The last one told my DH he must have the wrong number, she was sure we should have been calling WDW. I am guessing this is a brand new thing.

Anyway- we are staying at PPH for 5 nights with 6 day passes. 2 adults, 2 children and a baby and the total is about $2200.

The e-mail was titled "A Magical Disneyland Deal" and then had this in the body
"Enjoy a FREE Dine In The Magic Plan*
with the purchase of a non-discounted
4-Night/2-Day Vacation Package at the
Disneyland® Resort.
Now's a great time for your family to enjoy a magical Disneyland® Resort stay with a FREE Dining Plan, too!

That's a savings of $773** for a family of four.

Valid for arrivals 8/22–10/8/11"

I am guessing that the 4 day/2 night is the minimum requirement? Anyway- we are super excited to try it out!

 

[mousterpiece]

I'd recommend Cafe Orleans. Even though Blue Bayou will be closed while you're there, the atmosphere and menu are, IMO, better and for a lower price. The ambience, especially when you eat outside, is hard to beat, too.

 

[Flynn_Rider]

Stop by Bengal BBQ for a nice veggie Skewer as a snack!

 

[kailuagirl]

We love Carnation Cafe, yumm!!

 

[love2go2disney2]

After your trip, please let us know how the free dinning went!! I hope they release free dinning to the public too!!

 

[pinktink83]

Bengal BBQ is my fav for counter service!

 

[Brer Cameron]

For another table restaurant, my vote goes for Cafe Orleans. Counter service, I think one of my favorites now is actually the Hungry Bear. It used to not be that great, but they revamped the menu.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Can't wait to hear about your trip and read your dining review!